Irrigation official frustrates growers

THATTA, July 1: A large number of tail-end small growers and tillers, who gathered at their relevant tributaries to get their grievances registered regarding water shortage in their areas on the scheduled arrival of Superintendent Engineer Irrigation, returned to their homes in desperation on Thursday.

PPP MPA Humera Alwani told journalists that the Chief Engineer Irrigation Manzoor Shaikh had deputed Superintendent Engineer Irrigation Salman Memon who arrived here, but instead of hearing grievances of the tail-end growers, attended a puppet show at Indo-Naali and Khanti Wah — the feeders mainly being utilised by an influential politician now in power, had a lavish lunch with him and drove away.

She said that she had asked the coastline growers to reach at tail-ends of their waterways but behaviour of the SE frustrated them.

Ms Halwani said the tail-end growers, mostly dependant on Naseer Wah, Gulel Minor, Kotri Minor, Khanani Shaakh, Malirary Shakh and Khanti Wah, were being deprived of their due share of water for many months. They were on the verge of starvation as they could not sow paddy due to non -availability of water in these tributaries, she added.

Meanwhile hundreds of growers blocked the National Highway in protest against non-availability of water.—Correspondent